Karlsson scores in OT to end Senators' skid at 6 games (Feb 01, 2018)
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) Erik Karlsson scored in overtime in his 600th NHL game, and still the Ottawa Senators had to contend with bad news at the end of Thursday night.
Karlsson scored 32 seconds into overtime to lift Ottawa over the Anaheim Ducks 2-1 and snap a six-game skid, but the Senators may be without Bobby Ryan for a stretch after he re-aggravated a hand injury.
Ryan scored early in the third period for Ottawa but left the game shortly after as he once again took a puck to the hand, re-aggravating an ongoing injury to his fingers.
''It's not broken, it's the same thing and it flares up again,'' Senators coach Guy Boucher said. ''That might be a reflection of what's happened all year is that we get something positive and then we have to live with something that's not necessarily what we want.''
Karlsson one-timed a pass from Matt Duchene on a power play, beating Ryan Miller with a shot inside the near post.
''I'm very fortunate to play as many games as I have and I'm very lucky in that aspect and hopefully I have 600 more,'' Karlsson said. ''First and foremost the win was the best thing. That's what we were after and it's nice to see that we got it.''
Mike Condon stopped 30 shots in his best game this season.
Ryan Kesler tied it with 54 seconds left in regulation after Anaheim pulled Miller for an extra attacker. Miller made 30 saves, but Anaheim ended a three-game winning streak.
The Ducks are vying a wild card spot in the competitive Western Conference and can't afford to lose any ground, making the overtime point that much more important.
''It was a weird game,'' Kesler said. ''It was tough to get some calls there and not get calls on the other side to flip things. We're going to learn from our mistakes, but it was key we got a point and every point is huge right now. Our conference is so tight so we've got to fight for points on this road trip.''
Each team already had a player in the penalty box when Anaheim's Jakob Silfverberg took a tripping penalty early in the third period. Ottawa scored on the 4-on-3 when Ryan tipped Mike Hoffman's shot.
Miller was pulled with just over two minutes left in regulation time. Condon made a spectacular save on Kesler, but the forward got a second chance shortly after that and redirected shot by Rickard Rackell.
NOTES: Ottawa C Colin White and D Fredrik Claesson were healthy scratches. D Johnny Oduya (lower body) returned to the lineup after missing the last four games, while Nate Thompson also made his return from a lower-body injury that kept him out of the last five games. ... Magnus Paajarvi, acquired off waivers, made his home debut for the Senators.
UP NEXT
Ducks: Plat at Montreal on Saturday.
Senators: Play at Philadelphia on Saturday.
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